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N. PETERS. FHOTILLJTHQGHAPHER, WASHINGTONA n C.

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ERNESTO ANSALDI, OF LEGIIORN, ITALY.

L'etiersy Patent No.l 7 0,77 4, dated November 12, 1867; patented in Italy, September 10, 1866.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM ENGINES.

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Be it known that I, ERESTO ANsALDI,`oi` Leghorn, in the Kingdom of Italy, have invented certain Improvements in Steam Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. I

These improvements in steam engines consist ina novel arrangement ofthe same, with the object of doing away with what in steam engines are called the 'deadpoints,'thereby dispensing with the use of a fly-wheel, and obtaining an important saving in power and a more simple arrangement of the engine; and they consist in making use of two cylinders, set either concentrically to each other or placed side by side, and suitably connected together, the whole being arranged and acting in the manner as will be set forth in this description, and illustrated by the annexed drawings, in which latter the figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 show various views of an engine, the two cylinders of which are set concentrically to each other, the figs. 8 and 9 showing a modification of this arrangement, whereas the remainder-'of the gures illustrates the application of the invention to an engine having its two cylinders situated side by side, and suitably connected together.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, and

'v Figure 2 asplan view of an engine, the two cylinders of which are set concentrically, viz, the smaller onewithin the large cylinder. p

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal vertical, and

Figure 4 ahorizontal sectional view ofthe same, taken over the axis of the two cylinders.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 show transverse vertical sectional views over the lines X1 X1, X2 X2, and X3 X3 of iig. 2.

Figure 8 shows a transverse vertical sectional view of annodication in the situation of the valve-chests and valves, and

Figure 9 an outside view of this modification, with the chests and valves removed, in order to show the position of the steam-ports and passages. K

Figure 10 represents' -alongitudinal sectional view of the cylinders of an engine constructed according to my improved principle, with the two cylinders situated-side by side; the

Figures 11, 12, and 13 showing sectional views of various positions of the valves and cranks.

In all these igures the same letters of reference relate to corresponding parts.

The principle on which my improved steam engines are based is to make only the larger one of the two cylinders really use up the steam, whereas the smaller one serves more particularly for partof' the steam to pass through, and by reacting at the required moments on the piston of this smaller cylinder, make the piston of the large cylinder overcome its dead-pointa-for which purpose the crank of the small piston is situated at right angles with these of the large one, viz, in such manner that whenever the crank or cranks of this latter piston nearly reach their dead-points, the crank of the small piston is about exerting its maximum eiect, by which means these cranks mutually cause each other to overcome their dead-points, thereby allowing of doing away with the ily-wheel hitherto employed for this purpose, in consequence of which my improved steam engines are particularly valuable for marine purposes.

The general arrangement of my improved engine, whether its cylinders are situated concentrically or set side by side, does not dier materially from that of ordinary steam engines; the same is provided with the required eccentrica andthe necessary arrangements for giving and reversing motion, and other well-known parts.

I will describefiirstv the arrangement and mannervot'` working of the engine in-which the cylinders are set concentrically to each other, as shown in the figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, for a horizontal engine.

The small cylinder G is situated concentrioally within the large one B, this latter xed on a suitable platform' or base, A. C, D, andDl are three steam-chests, in which are situated and work their respective slidevalves 'l y2, and y1. I wish to observe here that other descriptions of valves might be made use of. The chests Dl and D are connected by a pipe, H1, whilst another pipe, H, connects the chest C with the inside of the valve y2. G is the piston of the inner cylinder, and Z the annular piston of the outer one, the ends of which cylin-l 'ders are closed by suitable lids and stuiing-boxes, through whichfwork the rods Vz for the outer, and the one, T2, for the inner piston. I is an arm tixed to the part K, this latter gliding in the guidesL'L. The'armI serves for moving'the shafts 1 and 2 of the valves g3 and y2. M is a rod connected to the part K, and supported by the standard O, which rod takes .hold of the shaft or arbor A3, on which is fixed an elliptic eccentric', N, working between two friction-rollers, I), carried by the rod M. This eccentric N consequently drives the parts P P, M, K, I, and thereby imparts the required forward and.backward motion to the valves 3/3 and yz, causing theui to stop for the required length of time towards the middle of their stroke. Q Q are two pairs ot' standards, to the top of which are fixed the guides R and Rl, between which glides the curved cross-head S, to which are fixed the shafts V2 V2 of the piston Z, and the connecting-rods V1 V1, actuating the cranks V V, fixed on the main arbor A3. T3 is a forked rod connecting the shaft T2 of the inner piston G1 with a crank, connccted with these V V, and set atright angle with these latter. This shaft Tzworks in va guide or bracket, Tl. Al are plummer blocksfor the mainland crank arbors. The valve yl, constructed on the ordinary principle, receives motion by means ofthe shaft D2, connected by thc rod D3 to .f1 circular ecccntric,'D*, fixed on the main arbor A3. This shaft D2 glides in a guide-rest, D5. t I

The mode ol' working et this' arrangement is as follows: The steam from the boiler enters by the pipe :d into the chest Dl, and is allowed bythe tube II1 to reach the chest D, the valve y of which distributes thesteain into 4the inner cylinder by means of the channels or steam-ways 3 and 4, provided in the covers ofthe cylinders ,The third chest C receives the steam by the tube I-I, which steam, however, docs not proceed directly from the boiler, but is the superfluous steam of the inner cylinder, and passes through the hollow part ofthe valve y2, as shown in iig. 5; this taking place when the said valve puts the tube II in communication, alternately, with one or the other of the channels 3 and et. This steam introduced in the chest C, enters into the outer cylinder by the steam-ways 7 and 8, according to which of these latter is open at thc time. Supposing now the engine to be at its dead-point, as shown in the drawing, the steam entering by the pipe :v iills both chests Dl and D." At this moment the ways leading into the outer cylinder are kept shut by the valve g/l, which latter is about to open the way 6, whilst in the chest D the valve gj" having already opened the way 4, the steam enters thereby,

and thus carries down the piston of the inner cylinder, the crank of which being situated at right angles with those of the outer cylinder, carries these latter cranks beyond their dead-point, accompanying them through an angle of about forty-tive degrees, and when arrived at about thirty degrees the valve yl opens the way 6, and thereby allowsthe steam tn entcr the outer cylinder, the piston'Z of which has already begun its stroke, which it will thus complete.

Attention is now to be called to the working of' the steam on the piston of ythe `inner cylinder, in consequence of the arrangement of the valves 7/2 and yl. Immediately after the crank U has reache'd about fortyp five degrees beyond rthe vertical position, the elliptic eccentric N drives' the said valves y2 and ya forward to about the middle of their stroke, when the valve y? allows the steam to `pass by the ways 3 and 4, on both sides of the piston ofthe inner cylinder, entirely filling this cylinder. The valve ys also assuming the middle position, shuts both ways T and 8, which is to take place in duc time, in order that the steam admitted by the valve yl, and acting on the piston Z, may be prevented from entering into the chests 'and D., The valve y2, contrary to the ordinary mode of working, allows the steam to pass on both sides of the piston of the inner cylinder, in order that the steam may, at the required moment, keep this piston in proper equilibrium, and not impede its progress,V it-being required that this piston should recede by the elfectol the other piston Z, whilst this latter is completing its stroke; consequently, it' the small piston were not kept in perfect equilibrium, it would form.

resistance to the progress ofthe large `lone. This latter having now nearly completed its stroke, and the cranks V V having consequently passed for about thirty degrees beyond their, dead-point, the small piston in its turn will have reached about the middle of its stroke, consequently withv its crank U situated at about an angle of thirty degrees with its dead-point or 0. At this moment the elliptic eccentric carries the valves y and ya at once from the middle to the end of their stroke,thereby opening the ways 3 and 7, the latter of which is in communieation with therouter cylinder'. The steam from the boiler, admitted by the pipes a: and H1, will now press on one side of the small piston, the steam existing in the cylinder on the other side of this piston taking its exit through the-hollow part of the valve y2, which latter sets the way 4 in communication with H, and enters inte the chest C, the valve ya of which allows the steam to pass by the way 7 into the outer cylinder, arriving in( which, it finds the piston Z about completing its stroke, and ready forfbeginning its return stroke,latwhich moment this steam, a little compressed, viz, in thesamc `.manner as takes place in ordinary steam engines by what iscallcd the lead of the valve, when this latter admits the steam a little before the piston begins its return stroke. It must be remarked here that in my improved arrangement this leadl or advance dees not take place by the edect of the valve ,fl/1, but from the opposite side. This steam exerts its pressure on Z by its own elasticity, and also by being driven by the piston of the small cylinder, which piston is pressed on :tlteopposite side by the steam admitted dircctlyrfrom theboiler. This piston GrL of the small cylinder consequently drives the iother, Z, till the steam is allowed to enter in B by the valves g1 of the steam-chest D, which steam then compels the piston Z to complete its stroke in the same manner as in ordinary steam engines. In.the meanwhile the valve y shuts the ways 7 and 8, whilst the valve l/2 admits the steam on both sides of the small piston, both valves taking the middle position by the eiect of the elliptic eccentric N, each complete revolution of which consequently causes both valves y2 and y" to take three different positions.

The above-dcscribed motions taking place in regular succession to each other, the engine will be driven with the utmost regularity, and not the slightest variation in speed 'during each revolution will be perceptible in the cranks, for whilst those, V V, advance towards their deadpoints, the other, U, is acting at full power, and 'uz'ce versa. :r1 is the exit opening for the steam after having acted on the pistons.

The figs. 8 and 9 show a modification inthe position of the slide valves, one ot' them, g/l, being set on one side of the outerl cylinder, and the two others, y? and-g3, close to eachother on the opposite side of the said cylinder, for the purpose of rendering the engine more simple, and doing away with various connecting partsof the elliptic eccentric. In this modification the steam from the boiler is admitted in the steam-chest D', and

the same reaches the chest D bythe way H1, and passes into the chest C by the way H, and nally, by the way 3, the steam is admitted into the inner, and by that, 7, into the outer cylinder, in the manner as has been described above.

It will be readily understood that various modifications might be made in the respective positionsv ofthe steam-chests and of the valves, provided their principle of acting in respect to the cylinders be kept up. The same must bc remarked about the cylinders, which, as has been said in the beginning of this specification, may be set concentrically to each other, or be situated side by side, viz, according to the principles illustrated in the figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13. In this latter arrangement the steam is admitted from the boiler bythe tube xinto the steam-chests D and D1, and enters either into the small or into the large cylinder, according to which of the steam-ports is open at the time, viz, in the manner as has been described above in respect to the first arrangement. In iig. 10 of the drawing the passage 4 ofthe cylinder G being open, the steam from the boiler is admitted underneath the piston of this cylinder, whilst the steam from above this piston passes through the passages 3, H, and 6 underneath the large piston Z, which piston is compelled to pass its dead-point by the i e'ect ot the small piston. The steam arriving from the small cylinder underneath the piston Z, will ac?J at'this moment by expansion, in the manner as in an ordinary Woolfs steam engine. The small piston having thus driven the large one Z to forty-tive degrees beyond its dead-point, the valves g3 shut the passages 6 and 5, and at the time the valve y2, reaching the middle of its stroke, keeps open part of the passages 8 and 4, thus establishing the equilibrium of the steam on both sides ofthe small piston, which consequently will nolonger oder any impediment to the progress of the large piston. The figs. 11, 12, and 13 show these positions ot' the valves. At the same time the equilibrium is thus established on the small piston, the valve y opens the passage S, and thereby admits the steam required for causing the large piston to complete its stroke. 'lhe large cylinder consequentlyl receives at first a portion of the steam of the other cylinder, and afterwards the remainder directly from the boiler, which principle, in combination with that of admitting at the required moments steam on both sides of the small piston, in order to prevent this latter from olering any impediment to the progress of the large one., forms the conspicuous parts or main principles of my invention.

Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my invention, and the manner in which thesame may be p'ut in operation, what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as my invention in steam engines, is

The arrangement of the steam-ports, passages, valves, and chests as described, with the pistons ofltivo steam-cylinders and their connections, to act in combination with each other, for the purpose of mutually assist-l ing each other for overcoming the dead-points of their strokes, when accomplished by the means substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.

ERNESTO ANSALDI.

Witnesses:

LUIGI iNIARoHnLLr, A. G. PAJEGLI. 

